UN Secretary-General issues report on Improving global road safety

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, has issued a report on Improving global road safety, in advance of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly. The Report summarizes achievements at the regional and global levels, including both ongoing activities and new developments in road safety. Since the publication of the previous report to the General Assembly in 2007, existing initiatives have been maintained and have gained momentum. During this time global road safety has also experienced a series of 'firsts': the first International Conference on Road Safety at Work, the first Global status report on road safety, the first global project on setting road traffic casualty reduction targets, the first meeting of road safety non-governmental organizations, and the call for a first decade of action for road safety. These achievements indicate that collaborative advocacy efforts and projects have had a significant global impact. The Report notes, however, that road traffic injuries continue to be a threat to health and development, and that an ambitious road safety vision and commensurate funding are required to address the global crisis effectively.

The Report recommends that the General Assembly reaffirm its commitment to addressing the global road safety crisis, and calls upon UN agencies and other key partners to continue and to strengthen cooperation in the context of the UN Road Safety Collaboration. Member States are encouraged to take a number of actions to improve road safety, including developing action plans and strategies with measurable targets, strengthening data systems, building the capacities of agencies tasked with leading national efforts, and addressing key risk factors relating to road infrastructure, vehicle safety, and road user behaviour. In addition, the Report recommends further expansion of international and local investment in road safety, the inclusion of road safety components in international development projects, and increased attention to the safety needs of vulnerable road users. The Report highlights the upcoming First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety as an unprecedented opportunity for all stakeholders to strengthen their commitment and collaboration. It therefore encourages Member States to participate in the Conference and to support efforts to establish a Decade of Action for Road Safety, with a commitment to halt and begin to reverse the current trend towards an increase in the number of